Roger Hall announces March 31
retirement as BGCT's treasurer
___By Marv Knox
___Editor
___Roger Hall, chief financial officer and treasurer of the Baptist General Convention of Texas for more than 18 years, has announced his retirement effective March 31.
___Hall, 58, joined the BGCT staff in October 1983. He built his reputation on integrity. Under his leadership, the convention received repeated praise from its auditors, who cited his high standards of financial accountability.
___In his retirement letter, Hall expressed gratitude "for the privilege of being a part of the Texas Baptist family and for ... the special honor of workin
g for Texas Baptists."
___"A special part of the blessing of this service has been the privilege of working with BGCT staff, institutional leadership, pastors, laypersons, church staff members and directors of missions," Hall noted. "I have never met more dedicated and faithful people.
___"Please know my genuine appreciation for lessons you all have taught me through these years, gratitude for friendships and personal pride in working to bring honor to God. Together, we have seen significant accomplishments in Texas Baptist life these past years."
___Hall praised Texas Baptists' financial stewardship. "The missions giving of our Texas Baptist churches continues to be a beautiful expression of a grateful people serious about their faith," he said. "Thank you all for your example to me during these years."
___Hall worked alongside former BGCT Executive Director Bill Pinson for 16 years and with Executive Director Charles Wade the past two years. In his retirement letter, he referenced his satisfaction with his part in the transition of directors.
___"It is my conviction that now is the right time for my retirement," he said. "I have been able to give assistance during the transition to new leadership, and I can unequivocally affirm that all financial records are in excellent condition.
___"This can be affirmed through the independent audit. ... The audit for 2001 will be completed prior to my retirement.
___"I will continue to pray for our Baptist family and participate as a Texas Baptist church member. From the bottom of my heart, I say, 'Thank you.'"
___Hall's retirement "will culminate a special time in my life in which I have had the unique privilege of working with God's choice people known as Texas Baptists," he told the Baptist Standard.
___"I have tried to do my best in the best setting one could have experienced. It is now time to prepare for the next person God has in mind for this place of ministry. I look forward to helping Dr. Wade and our staff in that transition."
___Hall received praise from both Wade and Pinson.
___"The Baptist General Convention of Texas has been blessed with many servants in our history, few as great as our chief financial officer," Wade said.
___"Roger's vision, commitment and faithfulness to Texas Baptists is apparent all around us. His hands and heart have touched every element of the BGCT since joining us in 1983. My words will not be able to express enough thanks for him and his longstanding service to the BGCT."
___Wade voiced appreciation to Hall for working sacrificially to ease the leadership transition.
___"For many months, Roger has discussed with me the difficulties he's had with his health and his open-heart surgery last year," Wade said. "I have encouraged him to stay at the task, and he has done so with great skill and energy.
___"His diligence, wisdom and financial management have helped our staff and me through many challenges. I am grateful for the ... years of effective and passionate leadership he has given to Texas Baptists."
___"Roger Hall exemplifies the finest qualities of Christian servant leadership," Pinson added. "He has served the Lord and Texas Baptists effectively, even sacrificially.
___"A rare combination of financial acumen and human-relations skills, he is a devout servant-leader. He is outstanding in family, church, friendship and denominational relations.
___"One of the great joys of my time as executive director was serving with this outstanding man," Pinson said. "He has helped to lead Texas Baptists to reach record after record, not only in finance, but in many other areas.
___"Texas Baptists will miss him greatly as treasurer/CFO, and I pray for the process of finding his successor."
___The convention's top elected leaders echoed sentiments expressed by Wade and Pinson.
___BGCT President Bob Campbell noted: "Roger Hall has been a tall standard of honesty and integrity in the financial affairs of Texas Baptists for many years. We have been fortunate to have him all this time.
___"I regret he is retiring, but I certainly understand the feeling that you have done your work and completed what you needed to get done."
___Campbell predicted Hall "will remain a close friend of Texas Baptists for many years to come, will be an active churchman and many will see his name again serving on various committees or study groups."
___Brian Harbour, president of the BGCT Executive Board, noted: "I really respect the man. He has been a tremendous leader for Texas Baptists.
___"He's given stability and integrity in the financial management of the convention."
___Stephen Hatfield, chairman of the BGCT Administrative Committee, praised Hall's "excellence and integrity."
___"His leadership and thoughtful planning have helped our convention stay on task to reach people for Christ in the midst of turbulent economic times," Hatfield said. "His friendship has been a blessing. As one Texas Baptist, I wish him well in the days to come."
___A native of Springfield, Mo., Hall is a graduate of Missouri State University and Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He was a captain in the U.S. Army and served in Vietnam.
___Hall, a certified public accountant, was vice president for estate planning at Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Mo., vice president for financial affairs at Midwestern Seminary, director of the business services division of the Missouri Baptist Convention, on the faculty at Southwest Baptist University and an accountant for firms in Kansas City and Joplin, Mo.
___He and his wife, Donna, have two daughters and four grandchildren.
___The Halls are members of First Baptist Church in Midlothian, where he is a deacon, Sunday School teacher and finance committee chairman.
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